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Faroe Islands: Sagas, sushi and street art

Sagas abound in the Faroe Islands. Perhaps surprisingly, these Viking isles also have a fabulous sushi restaurant and lively street art.

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Scenes from a Bahraini mall – empty elegance

29 September 2009 It’s 6:30 pm and I’m in Moda Mall at Bahrain World Trade Centre, wondering where all the people are. Moda is a huge shopping centre with high-end boutiques. Just from where I now sit, I see Louis Vuitton, Dior, Emporio Armani, Versace and Fendi. And where I sit is in a purple [...]

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Where in the World: Tonga

It’s time for another photo quiz, so without further ado – where in the world is this lovely bit of nature? This spectacular natural phenomenon occurs along a 5-kilometre-stretch of coastline in this little country. There you are, walking along the beach, when suddenly a series of jets rises before you. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Ocean [...]

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Two highlights of Bahrain

It’s early evening in the village surrounding Qala’at al-Bahrain. The creatively decorated houses remind me of pictures in fairy-tales, especially through the filter of the setting sun. Five horsemen appear out of the dusk in front of the silhouette of a large 16th century Portuguese fort. This is home to Iranians, says Aziz, my guide [...]

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Flirting with Fate in the Faroe Islands

Oyggjarvegur, the old mountain road from Torshavn, the tiny capital of the Faroes, towards the northern islands, is spectacular. But then, nothing less is to be expected in the world’s best island-destination. In places, there are no barriers between us and a 1000-foot drop into the chilling waters of the North Atlantic fjord. We edge [...]

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Where in the world: San Marino

San Marino, the world’s oldest republic, has been a sovereign state since 301. The ancient capital is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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Friendly Fujairah

We’ve come to our last emirate. Some of the seven we quite liked, others had less to offer. However, this is a region – and country – undergoing incredibly rapid development. By next year, they may all have heaps of interesting things to see and do. All the same, for now, I’m happy to finish [...]

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Affluent Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, holds a whopping 9 % of the world’s oil reserves, is the richest city on earth, safe, green, clean … and… dare I say it, slightly dull. The Emir of Abu Dhabi – Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, better known as Sheikh Khalifa – is president [...]

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